Time switch



Nov. 13 1923. v 1,473,679

` J. G` H. LIEBEL ET AL TIME SWITCH Filed Nov. 26 1921 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATESl PATENT oFFlcl-z.

JOHN G. H. LIEBEL `AND EDWIN FLARSHEIM, QF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TIME SWITCH.

Application led November 26, 1921. Serial No.`518,049.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we. JOHN G. H'. LIEBEL and EDWIN S. FLARSHEIM, citizens of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati,

in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Time Switches. of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to a portable time controlled electric switch of particular utility in X-ray photography, as an addition or I improvement to the time switch disclosed in an application filed by us Oct-ober 10, 1921,

Serial No. 506,612.

The device provides for a manual circuit closing, for a current interrupting. and for time mechanism automatic Acontrol after a manual time setting is made. :The time mechanism effects the automatic circuit opening or breaking, at the end of a measured duration. for which the time mecha.- nism is initially7 set. The current control can be either continuous for the aggregate time of a given time setting, or intermittent or interrupted for indefinite periods at the option of the operator. This provides for a single exposure of a definite time, or for a number of exposures` aggregating a definiteV time period established by a time setting. 3o The electric switch and clock mechanism of this invention is substantially the same as that of the invention disclosed in the before mentioned application. with the invention herein. dealing primarily with the mechanism for locking the push plunger of the electric switch against movement. in its normal position. to prevent accidental switch` closing, and to the means for making definite clock settings to eliminate dial readin for a particular time setting or for repeated operations.

Therefore, it is an object ot the invention to provide the actuating member of the port-able electric switch with locking mechanism manuall)7 controlled for preventing accidental switch closing. Another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide a time limited electric switch with adjustable stop means for limiting a setting '60 adjustment of the time setting mechanism.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set f orth in the description of the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, in which:

F ig. 1 is a central section illustrating the mechanism for throwing the switch, and for releasing the same at predetermined time intervals. 1

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2, Fig. 1, illustrating the vplunger locking mechanism.

Fig. 3 isar section on line 3 3, Fig. l, illustrating the method of plunger tripping.

Fig. 4 is a face View of the dial showing the adjustable stop means for limiting dial linger movement.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 545, Fig. 4.

F ig. 6 is a face view of the bar for locking the front plunger of the electric switch.

As the details of construction of the electric switch and its time controlling clock mechanism correspond substantially to the device made the subject-matter of the aforesaid application, reference should be had to said application fora detailed description of such parts or mechanism, which are herein referred to in a general manner sufficient for the present purpose.

Referring tothe drawings, 1 indicates a cylindrical casing preferably of an electric insulating material within which the electric switch mechanism is mounted. The casing is of such dimensions as to be held in the hand of the operator and the electric` switch is housed within the casing operated by a push-plunger 2 projecting through one end of the casing to be engaged by the thumb of the operator. The plunger 2 is depressed for an electric switch or circuit closing operation and is slidable within a sleeve 3 within the casing and fixed to the head of the casing. This Sleeve supports and ides the push-plunger centrally over the e ectric switch elements consisting of yielding contact blades 4, 5, for making and breaking or controlling an electric circuit. The plunger may be said to be of two-part form, the parts unit-arily movable for closing the electric switch or bringing the contact blades 4, 5, into engagement. with one part releasably connected with the second and adapted to be tripped by the clock mechanism for an automatic release of the contact blades for breaking the electric circuit. at the end of the time period. Thus the plunger 2 is provided with a plug extension 6 slidably en gaged Within a tubular end thereof, andv adapted to engage the switch blade 4 when the plunger is depressed. The plug as an extensible plunger end is coupled to the plunger by an arm 7 extending radially from the plug and through an L-slot in the plunger, the L-slot providing a shoulder 8 at one end of the slot against which the arm engages for unitarily connecting the parts for a switch control. The arm, when the plunger is depressed, may be tripped from the shoulder for releasing the plug, the plug when so released being retractably moved independently of the plunger under the spring pressure f the switch blade 4 for a time-controlled automatic circuit breaking operation. The trip arm 7 is provided with an angle-knife extension 9 cooperating with a lever arm 10, fixed upon the end of `the clock shaft 11. When the plunger and movable plug end are depressed,the knife end of the arm 7 is disposed in the path of the lever or crank armpl() and when engaged thereby rotates the plug slightly and to a degree which will disengage the arm 7 from the shoulder 8, whereupon the plug is free to be retracted within the plunger under the releasing pressure of the spring switch blades, whereby the contacting engagement between the switch blades is broken, opening the circuit controlled thereby while the plunger remains depressed.

This provides for an automatic breaking of the electric circuitafter a definitely timed period beyond the manual control of the operator, by maintaining theplunger in depressed position. The circuit, however, can be broken at the will of the o a timin period and before t e trip arm is engage by the clock arm 10, by merely releasing the plunger, as th'ef plunger and its extensible lugA end move as a unit as long asthe arm is permitted to remain engaged with'the shoulder at the end/of the L-slot inthe plun er. When trip ed, the plunger must be fu ly retracted beidre the plunger parts lare re-engaged. When the plunger and. its extensible plug end are depressed, the knife end of the trip arm 7 cooperates with anescapement controllin lever 12, of the clock mechanism, for re easing the clock mechanism, and its operation checked immediately upon the disengagement of the trip arm 7 and escapement controlling lever 12. The clock mechanism only continues in n operation while the plug end of the plunger remains depressed.

This provides for either a continuous or intermittent-l electric circuit control for` a given or predetermined time setting. The plunger is retracted by a spring 13 interposed between the plunger head and the end of the sleeve 3.

To avoid accidental depression of the plunger,l spring lock mechanism is employed,

rator withiny consisting of a lock lever 14 loosely engaged upon a pin 15 extended from the sleeve 3. The pin 14a projecting from the forward end of the lock lever 14 engages through an aperture 16, in the sleeve 3, and into a notch or aperture 17, in the plunger 2, when the plunger is in its normal retracted position. A 'pin extension 18, on the rear side of the lock lever, provides a stop for a limited releasing motion of the lever. The lever is spring pressed by a leat` spring 19, fixed upon the rear end of the lock lever and engaging or bearing against the interior of the casing 1. The lock lever is actuated by a push-button 20 engaged through an orifice in theV casing and protrudes slightly beyond the exterior of the casing, so as to enable the button to be depressed when the `casing is grasped by the palm of the operators hand. By depressing the push-button 20, the lock lever is rocked for releasing the plunger 2.

The clock mechanism, under the arrange` ment shown, has its time-setting mechanism limited to a single cycle of the setting pointer 21 fixedupon the outer end of the clock shaft y11, the pointer at the end of a cycle being stopped by a pin 22 projecting from the face of the dial plate 23. rlhe end of the clock shaft 11 is provided with a thumb nut 24, by which the shaft 11 is manually rotated for a clock setting and winding operation. The clock mechanism is housed within a cylindrical casing extending at right angles from the main casing 1. The outer end of the clock casing has a flanged annulus 25 for securing a transparent cover disc 26 in place, as a closure Jfor the end of the clock casing. The pointer 21 is disposed between the clock dial plate 23 and the transparent cover disk 26, with the dial plate and cover disk spaced apart by a ring Ibushing 27 the outer edge of the ring bushing providing an annular shoulder against which the cover disk bears, while the casing annulus is flanged to engage the opposite or outer side of the cover disk. vThe cover disk is rotatable within the seat space by the bushing and casing annulus, and is provided with an aperture 28 through which a stop pin 29 engages for intercepting the pointer 23. The stop in is fixed or integral with the endof a bar 0, fixed to an annulus 31, rotatable about the casing annulus over which it is engaged and to which it is adapted to be clamped by a clamp consisting of a jaw member 32, engaging the inner edge of the casing annulus and provided with a screw stem 33, engaged through the annulus 31, its free end ca ing a thumb nut 34, adapted to bear against the outer end face of the annulus 31. The clamp rictionally clamps the annulus 31 to the casin annulus 25 in any rotative adjusted position. Thus the stop pin 29 can be adjusted and set about the dial face as a time pmi mechanism for controlling a setting limit to which the pointer can be set. As shown, the stop pin is set between the dial readings 2 3, furnishing at such point a pre-set limit to which the pointer or clock-setting indicator hand can be rotated. v

For changingthe setting limit, the clamp is released, which permits the limit setting annulus to be freely swivelled or rotated, to bring the stop pin to any time setting limit desired within a single' cycle of the clock setting indicator or pointer, whereupon the annulus is again rigidly clamped against rotation.

This is of material advantage to the operator in X-ray photography for making a quick and accurate time setting and for repeated operations, without being required to observe the dial graduations for an indicator setting.

Having described our invention, we claim:

l. In a device of the class described, a casing, an electric circuit controlling switch mounted within said casing, a depressible push-plunger slidable within the casing for manually operating said switch and extending through one end of the casing, said plunger being of two-part form, with the parts operable unitarily and independently of one another, rewind setting clock mechanism for timing a closed duration control of said switch, cooperating with one part of said plunger, and push-button actuated locking means adapted to cooperate with said plunger -for locking saidplunger in its normal position. c

2. A portable-hand-holding time limited electric circuit controlling device, comprising a cylindrical casing, an electric circuit controlling 'switch mounted within said casing, a push-plunger slidable within the casing for actuating said switchandextending through one end of the casing, push-button actuated locking means accessible from the exterior of the casing, for locking said pushplunger inl its normal position, and clock switch closing duration said pushplunger.

3. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical casing, a rewind time-setting clock mechanism, havingan indicating finger mounted swivelled upon the face end of said casing, clamping means for clamping said annulus to said casing, and a finger stop element cooperating with `casing having within said casing, an annulus 4. In a device ot the class described, a casi ing. a rewind time-setting clock mechanism mounted within said casing and havin a setting indicator finger, a dial for said fin- `fier, stop means Jfor said finger swivelled about the axis of said finger, and means for clamping said stop means against motion.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing, a rewind time-setting clock mechanism mounted within said casing, having a manually operable rewind and setting shaft, accessible from the exterior of the casing, an indicator dial disk axially with said shaft, an indicator finger mounted on said shaft, a transparent plate about said shaft, providing an end closure for said casing, and housing said finger, an annulus about the axis of said shaft, exterior of said transparent plate, having a finger stop element engaged through an aperture in said plate for finger interception, and friction clamping means for rigidly to the casing.

6. In a device of casing, having an annular rim end, a time indicator dial mounted within the rim end of said casing, clock mechanism within said a clock winding and setting shaft extended through said dial, an indicator finger fixed to said shaft, a ring swivelled upon said casing ring, carrying a stop member for intercepting said indicator finger, and clamping means for locking said ring to said casing rim.

In a device loff' the class described, a casing, having an annular rim bound dial opening, a clock mechanism within said cas- `ing having a clock winding and time setting shaft coaxial with said casing rim, and carrying an indicator finger, an annulus swivelled about said rim, carrying a stop member for intercepting said finger, and meansfor clamping said annulus against motion.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe v our names, as attested by the two subscribing witnesses,

JOHN G. H. LIEBEL. EDWIN S, FLARSHEIM.

Witnesses:

L. A. BECK, R. KIs'rNER.

clamping said annulus` 

